The Rainy River Community College baseball team began its 2012 season this week in Orlando, Fla., by going 2-2 in four games over two days.

“Overall, we’re very pleased with how we’re progressing along,” said RRCC head coach Josh Koenig, who also noted the team’s pitching staff had all complete games and the defense played well for the most part.

On Wednesday, the Voyageurs started their season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and lost their first game, 2-1, to Seton Hill (Pa.) in 8 innings. 

Reece Lanier took the loss for RRCC only giving up 2 runs on 5 hits in the complete game.  Gabriel Santos Muniz threw out 3 runners from behind the plate. Angel Hernandez Jr. and Giovanni Rivera each collected a hit in the game.

RRCC 9, ASA College 4

In Wednesday’s night game against ASA College Brooklyn (N.Y.), the Voyageurs won 9-4 to pick up their first victory of the year.

Max Gonzalez picked up his first collegiate win on the mound throwing a complete game 2-hitter with 7 strikeouts.

Riley Acra, Bryn Redhead, Lanier, Hernandez and Ty Paddock each collected a hit in the game.  Hernandez recorded a double for the only extra-base hit of the game. 

Paddock sparked RRCC with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the first inning to bring 3 runs across the plate.

Mesabi Range 6, RRCC 2

 On Thursday, the Voyageurs split a doubleheader with Mesabi Range. 

Koenig said six errors hurt RRCC in the first game as the Voyageurs lost, 6-2. RRCC’s defense allowed 5 unearned runs to the Norsemen. 

Acra took the loss on the mound in a complete game effort. At the plate, Dominic Casareto got his first career college hit, while both Paddock and Redhead went 2-3 and Hernandez had a double.

RRCC 7, Mesabi Range 2

In game two of the doubleheader, the Voyageurs’ bats came alive early as they defeated Mesabi Range, 7-2. 

Paddock recorded his first collegiate career win on the mound only allowing 1 earned run.

 Josh McInnes led RRCC at the plate going 3-4 with a walk and an RBI.  Max Gonzalez and Chandler Ticknor each had 2 hits, and Giovanni Rivera got on base 4 of 5 times with a hit and 3 walks.

The Voyageurs close out their Florida trip this weekend in Orlando as they play Waubonsee Community College today and St. Lawrence (Quebec) and Oakton Community College on Sunday.